Kindle Edition
Amazon
Category:
Science Fiction
Publisher: CA Knapp
Type: Fiction
Pages: 141
Copyright: March 6 2014
Price: $2.99 (eBook)
Genetics is the new frontier on Earth.
Millions on the Earth starve.
Yet resources are consumed by fewer and fewer people while the Earth's environment is polluted and the atmosphere is depleted in order to feed the most entitled people and countries.
Famine is the new normal.
One company stands alone against the rape of the Earth.
VOLT TERRA CORPORATION is a ray of hope for Humanity.
Everyone in the academic and financial world is envious of the tremendous innovations and successes in genetics that have made Dr. Max Volt and his remarkable wife Dr. Peony Green Volt billionaires.
Not only are they rich, she is beautiful. Many have remarked on the ethereal beauty of Max Volt’s beloved wife Peony. The beauty of her person is only exceeded by her exquisite botanical creations.
Research Botanists from around the world sometimes tease her that she is in fact a product of the faeries, that no one but a fey spirit could manipulate Mother Nature as she has done.
Max, a world renowned bio-medical engineer, holds hundreds of patents in cutting edge technological instrumentation developed for emerging ”pico” industries, all born out of nano-research that serve the Volts' social justice mission.
Their Agri-Business company, VTC is directed at research and development for the production of protein enhanced food crops as well as global solutions for food bio-security.
VTC led by the innovative billionaires change the course of Earth populations downward spiral into deprivation and starvation.
The Volts live in a heady world of delicious scents and lovely wafting fragrances. Dr. Peony Green Volt is a highly respected organic chemist, botanist and an innovator in the manipulation of genetic material. She specializes in the discovery of new fragrances derived from plant life as well as utilizing derivative fragrances in the enhancement of hybridized plant proteins. Their world is an Eden of old world heritage plants and stunning hybrids. They live a satisfying and productive life improving the lives of the peoples of the world through their genetic technological breakthroughs.
But they suffer and their lives are punctuated by a singularly strident sadness. They are childless and have been so for 20 years. Unexpectedly at the age of 40, Peony becomes pregnant giving birth to a broken child.
Their baby becomes the endless target of global media curiosity and vicious, shameful, cruelty Their only child is lampooned and ridiculed. The Volt family is harassed by the media because of their sons' rare congenital defect..
While attending the University School for Identified High Intellect Children,their genetically deformed son, Gene “Pico’ Volt, forms an alliance with the infamous and reclusive Jane Doe, the greatest child prodigy in astrophysics and mathematics to ever walk the planet. Together they will fling earths sentient beings out into the farthest reaches of space while exploding every certainty within the science of genetics.
The Volt family embark on a journey that will rock the world of genetics and forever change mankind and the animal kingdoms that inhabit the planet as well as the galaxies that populate the universe.
Now,after millions of years of evolution, DNA and RNA will reconstruct itself exponentially through mutagenesis at a rapidity never expected by any of the genetic research scientists who survive the Volts' and their interference in Earths' genomes. The Earth and its inhabitants survive but in ways never imagined by old world society.
In this extraordinary series, the earth's sentient beings struggle to remake the moral and physical platform from which the world and the universe can protect and populate the heavens and defeat the Volts and their minions.Everyone in the academic and financial world is envious of the tremendous innovations and successes in genetics that has made Dr. Max Volt and his remarkable wife Dr. Peony Green Volt billionaires.
Not only are they rich, she is beautiful. Many have remarked on the ethereal beauty of Max Volt’s beloved wife Peony. The beauty of her person is only exceeded by her exquisite botanical creations.
Research Botanists from around the world sometimes teased her that she is in fact a product of the faeries, that no one but a fey spirit could manipulate Mother Nature as she has done.
Max, a world renowned bio-medical engineer, holds hundreds of patents in cutting edge technological instrumentation developed for emerging ”pico” industries, all born out of nano-research that serve the Volts' social justice mission.
Their Agri-Business company, VTC is directed at research and development for the production of protein enhanced food crops as well as global solutions for food bio-security.
VTC led by the innovative billionaires change the course of Earth populations downward spiral into deprivation and starvation.
The Volts live in a heady world of delicious scents and lovely wafting fragrances. Dr. Peony Green Volt is a highly respected organic chemist, botanist and an innovator in the manipulation of genetic material. She specializes in the discovery of new fragrances derived from plant life as well as utilizing derivative fragrances in the enhancement of hybridized plant proteins. Their world is an Eden of old world heritage plants and stunning hybrids. They live a satisfying and productive life improving the lives of the peoples of the world through their genetic technological breakthroughs.
But they suffer and their lives are punctuated by a singularly strident sadness. They are childless and have been so for 20 years. Unexpectedly at the age of 40, Peony becomes pregnant giving birth to a broken child.
Their baby becomes the endless target of global media curiosity and vicious, shameful, cruelty Their only child is lampooned and ridiculed. The Volt family is harassed by the media because of their sons' rare congenital defect..
While attending the University School for Identified High Intellect Children,their genetically deformed son, Gene “Pico’ Volt, forms an alliance with the infamous and reclusive Jane Doe, the greatest child prodigy in astrophysics and mathematics to ever walk the planet. Together they will fling earths sentient beings out into the farthest reaches of space while exploding every certainty within the science of genetics.
The Volt family embark on a journey that will rock the world of genetics and forever change mankind and the animal kingdoms that inhabit the planet as well as the galaxies that populate the universe.
Now,after millions of years of evolution, DNA and RNA will reconstruct itself exponentially through mutagenesis at a rapidity never expected by any of the genetic research scientists who survive the Volts' and their interference in Earths' genomes. The Earth and its inhabitants survive but in ways never imagined by old world society.
In this extraordinary series, the earth's sentient beings struggle to remake the moral and physical platform from which the world and the universe can protect and populate the heavens and defeat the Volts and their minions.Everyone in the academic and financial world is envious of the tremendous innovations and successes in genetics that has made Dr. Max Volt and his remarkable wife Dr. Peony Green Volt billionaires.
Not only are they rich, she is beautiful. Many have remarked on the ethereal beauty of Max Volt’s beloved wife Peony. The beauty of her person is only exceeded by her exquisite botanical creations.
Research Botanists from around the world sometimes teased her that she is in fact a product of the faeries, that no one but a fey spirit could manipulate Mother Nature as she has done.
Max, a world renowned bio-medical engineer, holds hundreds of patents in cutting edge technological instrumentation developed for emerging ”pico” industries, all born out of nano-research that serve the Volts' social justice mission.
Their Agri-Business company, VTC is directed at research and development for the production of protein enhanced food crops as well as global solutions for food bio-security.
VTC led by the innovative billionaires change the course of Earth populations downward spiral into deprivation and starvation.
The Volts live in a heady world of delicious scents and lovely wafting fragrances. Dr. Peony Green Volt is a highly respected organic chemist, botanist and an innovator in the manipulation of genetic material. She specializes in the discovery of new fragrances derived from plant life as well as utilizing derivative fragrances in the enhancement of hybridized plant proteins. Their world is an Eden of old world heritage plants and stunning hybrids. They live a satisfying and productive life improving the lives of the peoples of the world through their genetic technological breakthroughs.
But they suffer and their lives are punctuated by a singularly strident sadness. They are childless and have been so for 20 years. Unexpectedly at the age of 40, Peony becomes pregnant giving birth to a broken child.
Their baby becomes the endless target of global media curiosity and vicious, shameful, cruelty Their only child is lampooned and ridiculed. The Volt family is harassed by the media because of their sons' rare congenital defect..
While attending the University School for Identified High Intellect Children,their genetically deformed son, Gene “Pico’ Volt, forms an alliance with the infamous and reclusive Jane Doe, the greatest child prodigy in astrophysics and mathematics to ever walk the planet. Together they will fling earths sentient beings out into the farthest reaches of space while exploding every certainty within the science of genetics.
The Volt family embark on a journey that will rock the world of genetics and forever change mankind and the animal kingdoms that inhabit the planet as well as the galaxies that populate the universe.
Now,after millions of years of evolution, DNA and RNA will reconstruct itself exponentially through mutagenesis at a rapidity never expected by any of the genetic research scientists who survive the Volts' and their interference in Earths' genomes. The Earth and its inhabitants survive but in ways never imagined by old world society.
In this extraordinary series, the earth's sentient beings struggle to remake the moral and physical platform from which the world and the universe can protect and populate the heavens and defeat the Volts and their minions.Everyone in the academic and financial world is envious of the tremendous innovations and successes in genetics that has made Dr. Max Volt and his remarkable wife Dr. Peony Green Volt billionaires.
Not only are they rich, she is beautiful. Many have remarked on the ethereal beauty of Max Volt’s beloved wife Peony. The beauty of her person is only exceeded by her exquisite botanical creations.
Research Botanists from around the world sometimes teased her that she is in fact a product of the faeries, that no one but a fey spirit could manipulate Mother Nature as she has done.
Max, a world renowned bio-medical engineer, holds hundreds of patents in cutting edge technological instrumentation developed for emerging ”pico” industries, all born out of nano-research that serve the Volts' social justice mission.
Their Agri-Business company, VTC is directed at research and development for the production of protein enhanced food crops as well as global solutions for food bio-security.
VTC led by the innovative billionaires change the course of Earth populations downward spiral into deprivation and starvation.
The Volts live in a heady world of delicious scents and lovely wafting fragrances. Dr. Peony Green Volt is a highly respected organic chemist, botanist and an innovator in the manipulation of genetic material. She specializes in the discovery of new fragrances derived from plant life as well as utilizing derivative fragrances in the enhancement of hybridized plant proteins. Their world is an Eden of old world heritage plants and stunning hybrids. They live a satisfying and productive life improving the lives of the peoples of the world through their genetic technological breakthroughs.
But they suffer and their lives are punctuated by a singularly strident sadness. They are childless and have been so for 20 years. Unexpectedly at the age of 40, Peony becomes pregnant giving birth to a broken child.
Their baby becomes the endless target of global media curiosity and vicious, shameful, cruelty Their only child is lampooned and ridiculed. The Volt family is harassed by the media because of their sons' rare congenital defect..
While attending the University School for Identified High Intellect Children,their genetically deformed son, Gene “Pico’ Volt, forms an alliance with the infamous and reclusive Jane Doe, the greatest child prodigy in astrophysics and mathematics to ever walk the planet. Together they will fling earths sentient beings out into the farthest reaches of space while exploding every certainty within the science of genetics.
The Volt family embark on a journey that will rock the world of genetics and forever change mankind and the animal kingdoms that inhabit the planet as well as the galaxies that populate the universe.
Now,after millions of years of evolution, DNA and RNA will reconstruct itself exponentially through mutagenesis at a rapidity never expected by any of the genetic research scientists who survive the Volts' and their interference in Earths' genomes. The Earth and its inhabitants survive but in ways never imagined by old world society.
In this extraordinary series, the earth's sentient beings struggle to remake the moral and physical platform from which the world and the universe can protect and populate the heavens and defeat the Volts and their minions.Everyone in the academic and financial world is envious of the tremendous innovations and successes in genetics that has made Dr. Max Volt and his remarkable wife Dr. Peony Green Volt billionaires.
Not only are they rich, she is beautiful. Many have remarked on the ethereal beauty of Max Volt’s beloved wife Peony. The beauty of her person is only exceeded by her exquisite botanical creations.
Research Botanists from around the world sometimes teased her that she is in fact a product of the faeries, that no one but a fey spirit could manipulate Mother Nature as she has done.
Max, a world renowned bio-medical engineer, holds hundreds of patents in cutting edge technological instrumentation developed for emerging ”pico” industries, all born out of nano-research that serve the Volts' social justice mission.
Their Agri-Business company, VTC is directed at research and development for the production of protein enhanced food crops as well as global solutions for food bio-security.
VTC led by the innovative billionaires change the course of Earth populations downward spiral into deprivation and starvation.
The Volts live in a heady world of delicious scents and lovely wafting fragrances. Dr. Peony Green Volt is a highly respected organic chemist, botanist and an innovator in the manipulation of genetic material. She specializes in the discovery of new fragrances derived from plant life as well as utilizing derivative fragrances in the enhancement of hybridized plant proteins. Their world is an Eden of old world heritage plants and stunning hybrids. They live a satisfying and productive life improving the lives of the peoples of the world through their genetic technological breakthroughs.
But they suffer and their lives are punctuated by a singularly strident sadness. They are childless and have been so for 20 years. Unexpectedly at the age of 40, Peony becomes pregnant giving birth to a broken child.
Their baby becomes the endless target of global media curiosity and vicious, shameful, cruelty Their only child is lampooned and ridiculed. The Volt family is harassed by the media because of their sons' rare congenital defect..
While attending the University School for Identified High Intellect Children,their genetically deformed son, Gene “Pico’ Volt, forms an alliance with the infamous and reclusive Jane Doe, the greatest child prodigy in astrophysics and mathematics to ever walk the planet. Together they will fling earths sentient beings out into the farthest reaches of space while exploding every certainty within the science of genetics.
The Volt family embark on a journey that will rock the world of genetics and forever change mankind and the animal kingdoms that inhabit the planet as well as the galaxies that populate the universe.
Now,after millions of years of evolution, DNA and RNA will reconstruct itself exponentially through mutagenesis at a rapidity never expected by any of the genetic research scientists who survive the Volts' and their interference in Earths' genomes. The Earth and its inhabitants survive but in ways never imagined by old world society.
In this extraordinary series, the earth's sentient beings struggle to remake the moral and physical platform from which the world and the universe can protect and populate the heavens and defeat the Volts and their minions.
Excerpt
Broken
The Adonis Project
The Genesis Series
By CA Knapp
When in the process of replicating or duplicating chromosomes,
or in any other phase of mitosis…
which generates differences between the two desired identical sets of chromosomes,
the two resulting daughter cells will not be genetically identical
…resulting in and demonstrating a genetic code that is broken…
CA Knapp
Table of Contents
Broken
The Adonis Project
The Genesis Series
By CA Knapp
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
From the Author
Copy Right 2014
Broken by CA Knapp
Disclaimer: This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.
Chapter 1
Max Volt had a bone to pick with God.
He leaned on the ornate stone bannister that surrounded the opulent roof top terrace of the plush hotel. He was glad he was alone. The place was deserted. He looked out into the dark while smoking a cigarette for the first time in 30 years. He loved the taste and feel of the mellow smoke of good tobacco. He inhaled, appreciating the flavor of the Cuban tobacco.
Max thought about what he had to say to God, “Listen up, God, it’s time for you and the Grim Reaper to pack your bags and take a vacation …soon, very soon death will be a thing of the past… unless it’s death by suicide.” Max reflected angrily as he dragged deeply on his second cigarette. “No more pesky funerals, no more wasted lives, no more deformed or diseased people, we’ve broken the code… we are climbing the genetic ladder into your world. None of us will ever have to fear the afterlife.”
Max took another deep drag and blew the smoke out of his burning lungs. “Yep…God you are so busted. We are fixing your mess.”
Max tossed the burning butt down and crushed it under the heel of his genetically synthesized leather shoe. Chuckling to himself as he strolled across the luxurious hotels outdoor terrace he thought, “the tobacco industry is going to be back in business really soon…probably ought to call my brokers and have them buy stock on the cheap before tonight’s big announcement.”
Taking a last look at the moon Max shivered. He wrapped his scarf a bit tighter as he walked back into the hotel lounge. He left the frigid night air swirling on the deserted terrace.
Max opened his comm unit and made the call while looking out at the cold night sky through the plate glass windows. “Buy tobacco stocks…on the cheap…yea…before the announcement…just buy… tell the Aggies to buy up all the tobacco farms…pay cash if they have to …quick…make it happen on the cheap.”
The crescent moon rode the oily estuary, a white sliver in the black sky. The night was clear, the air so cold that the inky darkness was not obstructed by the usual fog or mist typical of the city of Edinburgh. The dark Scottish horizon had an endless black depth that carried on, never ending in its haunting wintry beauty.
The beautiful people, the patrons of the Harbor Hotel bar, lounged by the vast expanses of glass that overlooked the glistening harbor while listening to soft piano music. They chatted happily while enjoying their late afternoon drinks. .
Dr. Max Volt, renowned scientist, Noble Laureate, father and husband, had ordered his usual after sitting down by the roaring fireplace. He sat and sipped his 20 year old cask strength single malt whiskey waiting for it all to begin.
By all appearances Dr. Volt was a small man, he was a shabby sort, his clothes although of good quality were rumpled and untidy, really not typical of the clientele of this prestigious hotel.
He took no notice of the looks he was getting from his fellow well-heeled patrons. He sprawled in a comfy club chair by the warm fire. Max was lost in thought. He sipped his drink in silent reverie. He ordered another with a slight wave of his hand.
“Bring me the hotel phone, will ya, Fergus”. The barman quickly brought Dr. Volt the phone as he knew that he could expect a handsome tip from this very nice American man.
Dr. Volt and his wife, Dr. Peony Green had become fixtures in the hotel over the last two months. Fergus figured that they were here for Hogmanay as the Volt’s had taken up all of the ballrooms for a special party of VIP’s.
The hotel staff was all in a tizzy as the money being spent by the Volts’ for their event was staggering, all very hush, hush but the staff could not stop talking about the plans amongst themselves. As long as it was kept secret from the outside media, the hotel workers were comfortable rehashing the details with each other.
The tipping from these people was astounding and was very welcome during the holidays…they had never seen so much money tossed around for gratuities especially as tips were rare among their usual clientele of tight fisted wealthy Scots and Brits. Tipping was a very American thing that Fergus and the rest of the staff could have really gotten used too if given the chance.
Fergus stepped away to insure Dr. Volts privacy while he was using the phone. Max Volt was easily overheard. “Hey, babe are you coming down yet, how about a drink before we have to get ready for the shindig? No…I am not getting drunk…you know me better than that …besides I can always take an enhancer that will clear the alcohol from my system before I shower and change! Come on down babe and have a glass of holiday cheer with me…we have a lot to celebrate …ok…ok…are the kids in yet? No, no, you know he doesn’t want anyone to see him before tonight’s event…yeah it’s all set …you remember the plans …all set…yeah, so…you are coming down right?…just wear your jeans…no problem about getting gussied up for this joint…come on down… Ferg is at the bar…he’ll set you up…ok see you soon. It’s gonna be great babe…really…it’s gonna be great!”
“Hey Ferg come here man,” whispering to Fergus, “make Peony an apple daiquiri and use the special Pi apples I brought you yesterday…she loved that daiquiri you whipped up for her the other night.”
Fergus had just started making the drink as Dr. Peony Green walked into the bar dressed in a pair of ratty old jeans, a soft v-neck cashmere sweater and blue denim tennis shoes that had seen plenty of wear. Her blazing red hair was pulled back in a ponytail.
The whole room went silent…god knows she was beautiful…her beauty seemed to take the oxygen out of the room.
She phlumped into the chair Max was sitting in, shoving his small frame over and crossed her legs over him kicking off her shoes and sighing deeply she said,” I hate dressing up, all these plans are so stressful.”
“Thanks Ferg…uummm yummy so delish…have you tasted the apple Fergus?…Oh, come on it’s alright …I said the staff could have some of the apples …it’s not like I don’t have tons of them…really…I told the Manager that Pi apples were available to the staff at no charge…so did ya try them, did you take some home for the family to try?”
Fergus was a bit embarrassed as he had indeed taken them home to his wife and kids. He had actually been thinking that he had stretched the Pi apple thing for the staff a bit, he had been feeling a wee bit guilty….but here he finds out that that Brit bastard Hotel Director had been trying to charge the staff to take them home when in fact they were intended to be free…what a tosser!
In fact, this couple had been generous to a fault. It made sense that they were giving the most expensive apples in the world away to the staff! Seems Dr. Peony Green had gotten a Nobel Prize for creating the answer to world hunger and this Pi apple was the one of results of her astounding genetically modified fruits.
Fergus sighed gratefully and said,” Dr. Green, my wee barnes love the apples…prefer them to sweeties…it’s a wonder…my wife teases that she doesn’t need to cook ever again…I’ve told her to hold on as I still expect a bit of lamb, sprouts, mushie peas, chips and the like. Really the Pi apple is brilliant though …nothing like it…it is amazing and it smells, feels and tastes just like an apple tart.”
Peony’s smile lit up the bar. “How old are your kiddos …I’ll have the farm send you a case every week… forever… as a big thank you for making the best drink ever with my apple, what is your address?”
Peony took out her hand held cyber device and using an encryption system that Max had developed for her as she smiled up at Fergus’s stunned face waiting for his directions…”no madam…no madam that is too much…how about sending them here to the hotel so that all of us can share in the gift…just tell the Manager that we are all to have a share in the apples and that would be plenty, a most generous gift”. “Oh that’s a great idea…call the Manager on the house phone and tell him to come to the bar to see me so I can set this up right.”” Yes madam…right away,” said Fergus walked away to the bar phone smiling to himself as he thought that this would finally fix the Director’s little game once and for all.
The Hotel Director picked up on the third ring and Fergus told him that Dr. Volt and Dr. Green were in the bar and wanted to speak to him.
It only took a minute for the slimy, oily little ponce to slither into the bar. Fergus toweled the bar as he watched the great tosser, bowing and scraping while Peony quizzed him on the number of staff and the idea of delivering a weekly shipment of the Pi apples sufficient for everyone to share.
All was finally arranged.
Pi apples for life…what a great thing…the kids would be thrilled and the staff would know what a great steaming cow pat the Manager really was!
The bar settled into the slow, murmuring, luxurious rhythms of the late afternoon. Looking out over the harbor it appeared to be full night because of the short winter days of Scotland but in fact, it was still early! Scotland was known for short days in the wintertime making the Harbor Hotel’s luxurious bar a popular gathering place for before dinner drinks.
Max and Peony snuggled in the club chair talking and laughing softly. Max looked at his wife. No one would know that she was 70 plus years old, the tiny worry lines were gone from her face and she seemed genuinely happy and relaxed for the first time in 30 years…god had it been that long since Gene was born?
Max stroked her blazing red hair back behind her ear…seemed her pony tail was coming undone so Max helped it along by pulling the scarf off releasing an ocean of brilliance, her long red hair flamed with reflected light from the fire place. The glow surrounded her lovely face, framing her grey eyes.
So beautiful, Max thought, and she will be like this almost for forever.
The Volts finished their drinks, waved to Fergus and left the bar arm in arm. Fergus collected the drinks glasses and was not surprised to see the massive tip…gathering up the money he thought that it must have been nice to be so very rich as well as being so very kind and generous.
They went upstairs to the top floor of the hotel by the private elevator reserved for the penthouse. It was time to wait for the kids to arrive from the Amazon, get cleaned up and dress for the evening event….maybe time for a wee nap.
The top floors and the roof had been reserved for the Volt family. Max had had quite a time to get approval for the helo to land on the roof top as well as getting a further restriction approved for VTC transport to be the only helo allowed on the roof for the next 2 weeks…Max had greased a lot of palms in the Government House and had made substantial donations to the Fire and Rescue authorities. VTC had paid the hotel a mountain of money to secure the top floors which included exclusive use of the roof. He had been glad to provide his own staff for cleaning and securing the space. The elevator was staffed by his security people. His plans required total security and he had been willing to pay the price.
Once in the suite Max decided to order food as he knew it was unlikely they would get to eat during the event…sure there would be plenty to eat at the evening event but Max anticipated pandemonium and it was unlikely that the Volt family would get much eating done at the gala evening.
“Hmmm let’s see, hey, Peony what shall we order up for the kids…how about a bunch of those buttered, poached lobsters, some cream of tomato soup…oh, I know let’s get the kids the big
cream tea cart with all the fixings plus the lobster and oh well, let’s have them lay the table with whatever sounds good…cheeses and lots of really cold champagne…we’ll get the good stuff…after the Amazon …the kids should really enjoy this spread…you know it is really going to be a huge night for Gene.”
“So listen Bear, if you can think of anything else that the kids might want or that you want to get to eat, order it up…it’s the usual drill…Now Peony and I are going to get dressed so we can be ready to meet the kids. They should be arriving from the airport soon.”
Bear smiled and gave Peony a little shove “Go on now and get going…I know what the kids like and I am definitely going to get the high tea cart plus everything else that the kitchen can supply…and yes the table will be set…go on and shower, bathe and change…your clothes are all pressed and laid out in the dressing rooms…plus I took that little surprise you showed me and put it where we agreed Dr. V…right where we agreed.”
Bear was called Bear because she just loved Yellow Stone Park and she loved all things related to bears…so she was just called Bear by her friends and her family…since she had been with the Volts for over 30 years and she had no other real family…they had become her real family and that was fine by her…she loved them all so much!
The VTC helo lifted off from the Edinburgh Airport after meeting the private corporate jet which had just arrived from the Amazon. All Customs clearances were taken care of courteously while the passengers and crew were still onboard the private jet.
The Volt family’s private security detail waited on the hotel roof for the helicopter to land and to be secured. The kids had arrived.
Dr. Gene” Pico” Volt and Dr. Jane Doe Volt were expected. Gene was in a high state of excitement while as usual Jane was deep in thought. Gene had been chattering away about the event while he had lurched from side to side to see the harbor and the city from the helos windows as they were flown up to the hotel roof top.
Gene’s exclamations finally broke through Jane’s thoughts while he was reminding her for the third time that she had promised to be interested. Jane sighed and consigned the equation she had been working on to its special compartment in her mind…after all, she had promised and she could work on this equation later, after or even during Gene’s big event.
She had agreed to a lot of things for tonight …just to make him happier…Jane did not want to detract from his enjoyment so she agreed to dress up in the finest clothes, wear big ass jewelry and wear a jeweled head piece specially made to conceal the scars on her head…it was all ridiculous but she knew that if she showed up with her scars exposed…the press would obsess about her background, her life, stealing the limelight from Gene’s announcement.
She had tried to convince him that his announcement would galvanize the world and the press. Her mathematical calculations had proven beyond a doubt that she could have arrived at the gala event wearing a flaming bag of shit and no one would notice her after the Giant Videon Screens placed all over world released the video of his breakthrough in genetics.
But Gene was, well…just Gene and he was a bit insecure. So she had agreed to play along and do what he had been daydreaming about and planning for the last 24 years.
He had woven a scenario with complete details including making her look like some kind of queen…since she was 6 years old she had listened to him weave these dreams…so she had offered to let him plan it all down to the last remnant of clothing that she would wear…it was all so ridiculous but all of this had made him very happy.
And besides she could multi task while sitting around with all of the mouth breathers …her mathematical mind could not be restricted by her physical location. “Ok, Pico, ok, I am all yours …but you have to promise me one thing Gene…we gotta eat, I am starving and I hate eating in front of strangers…eating is so personal, all the chewing and stuff. “ Gene laughed. “You know Dad and Bear have fixed all of that…I promise tons of food before we hit the event …just don’t eat so much your dress won’t fit.” Jane scoffed and giggled, “Right as if I ever gain weight…I never gain weight , you know that, I know exactly how many calories my body burns all the time…your Mom knows all about this… why do you tease me about my appetite…a girl has gotta eat.”
Gene hugged her tiny body to him. She observed, while returning the exact amount of hug pressure, that his skin felt so different now…it was odd that she noticed such a mundane tactile fact…oh well it was an odd night…so oddities could be computed as falling within the normal.
The helo landed on the rooftop, was secured and the couple was hustled into the elevator. Jane followed the Volt security people without acknowledging them, Gene was asking questions a mile a minute…he knew the answers as he had all the latest data from his cyber web com device. His Dad had done everything that the Father and Son duo had planned to the letter but Gene was so amped that he was on an OCD roll…checking, checking, precise details affirmed for the millionth time. “Hmmm, Jane thought, millionth is an exaggeration …an oddity for me, again!”
The Harbor Hotel was beautiful, luxurious and stately. Gene was thrilled and Jane was hungry. Eating on a jet flight required the presence of strangers so she rarely ate much. So now she was starving with a capital S. Luckily Bear and Dad would not fail to provide. And just as she knew that 1 was a prime number, food was ready to be served and eaten upon entering the suite.
Bear greeted her with wild enthusiasm giving her a hug which Jane returned with the exact amount of hug pressure and then without further ado she grabbed a plate while taking off her fur coat…genetically synthesized fur. Gene loved to synthesize lost or extinct species, Jane had not asked him what animal he had regenerated, it really didn’t matter to her, everyone else went ape shit over the coat…most importantly, it did not fail in its function which was warmth …so hurrah, hurrah it was a good coat.
The food was there, piled high and deep, the security detail had long since left. Jane was on her second buttered poached lobster and she had already eaten a pile of crunchy béchamel filled salt cod croquets. Champagne, very cold and very dry was served in long crystal flutes, Gene did a toast with champagne while Jane computed the # of bubbles in a bottle of champagne…she
had to consider the temperature variables affecting the bubble formation while the bottle warmed…it was interesting chaos mathematics.
Mom and Dad were still changing but Jane was way too hungry to wait for them so Jane and Gene sat down to do some serious eating. Gene was always amazed at how much Jane could eat…maybe it had something to do with her extraordinary use of brain power and the need for glucose to power her thoughts. As they ate, Jane was still thinking about the number of bubbles and considering the bubble size variable, Gene was lost in his own thoughts while rambling on, chattering on while his excitement continued to build.
Bear rolled out a tea cart covered in cakes and sandwiches and Jane squealed with delight! Only food made Jane squeal. Food was a huge part of the Volt family’s culture, eating was a tradition not to be messed with. So squealing with abandon, her tiny hand darted out grabbing a huge slice of frosted cake, she mashed it deep into her open mouth, washing it down with cold Champagne. ”Oh, Bear I hate traveling so much, traveling leaves me so hungry that I actually think I hate sharing with Gene,” Jane chortled as she stuffed a smoked salmon sandwich into her mouth. “Jeez, babe, the way you eat you should weigh a ton”, teased Gene while watching his tiny wife with warm affection.
“Oh, you kids stop arguing over food…there is plenty to go around…now hurry up and eat up, you both have to get cleaned up and dress for tonight,” Bear said with a smile on her face. “You don’t have time for a nap, are you guys tired after the long airplane trip,” she asked.” Nah...Pico and I both got some sleep on the plane…no food though so I’m starving…ya know,” said Jane with a mouthful. “Yeah Princess here is so deprived…what has it been…a few hours…since you scarfed down a tray of cold appetizers on the corporate jet… teased Pico,” no…noo…that is not eating… that is…sooo uncomfortable...all those mouth breathers watching…can’t really enjoy the food…it’s like subsistence eating …so shoot me …I’m hungry,” said Janey in her own defense.
Bear laughed, she adored these kids and had been with them since they were both 6 years old…her brow furrowed as she thought of the bad old days. Well, she would not think about any of that…Gene had fixed all of that and tonight everyone was going to know all about these babies, her babies, being the smartest folks on the planet. Gene grinned at Jane and began to remind her once again of her commitments to him regarding his special night. Jane tried very hard not to groan as she had promised Gene she was going to be a good little wife and support him while he stunned the world with his news.
“Come on , Jane, you have to be full by now, you have cream cake all over your sweater, I think you even have some in your hair.” Reaching over Gene dabbed cream frosting onto the tip of Janey’s nose…Jane started to fling food back at him when he said, ”no…no food fight Jane, come on…it’s time to get serious…let’s go bathe and change into our evening clothes.” “Oh wait Gene, hold on, I want to see Mom first…I wanted to talk to her about that outfit that I have to wear tonight.”
At that moment Peony walked into the dining room while clipping a lacy web of delicate spun gold and bejeweled dragonflies onto the shoulder of her iridescent evening gown. Light
fractured on the thin deep green fabric, shattering into a prismatic array of green shades, her thick red gold hair was corded with ropes of fat, creamy South Sea pearls and the braids of hair surrounded her face like a crown. She twirled and the hem flowed out revealing an under skirt of pink frothy fabric.
Max followed her out into the suite of rooms, clasped her around the waist and hugged her to him. Kissing the side of her neck he asked the room full of his beloved family,” well, what do you think of your old Ma now? Ummm, you smell wonderful…is that a new fragrance …have you created a new scent, just for me, you are bringing the devil out in me Peony. Son, sorry I can’t make it tonight your Mother and I have a very important date, right baby?”
“Dad ,come on you two…get serious… stop kidding around…Mom, Jane needs to ask you about the outfit …good grief…you guys are all gonna drive me crazy.” Max swung Peony around the huge suite dancing cheek to cheek ignoring Gene.
No one would ever guess that they were in their seventies, they looked like kids, their bodies swaying to their own music. “Mom …Dad… please, “Jane laughed and watched her in-laws dancing around the room. The Baccarat chandeliers lite up the room and the dress shimmered. Bear sighed and wiped her tear streaked face with her big capable hand,” leave your Momma and Poppa alone kids, I know all about Jane’s outfit so just go on into your rooms and take your bathes …Janey you call me when you get done with your bath or do you want me to help you … you know… I will help you get yourselves together…now scoot, go get ready Gene, you need to quit fretting.”
Gene bolted to his room and found that his valet had laid his evening clothes out, white tie and tails hung on the clothing stand. Tonight was going to be the biggest night of his life…he was going to take over the world.
Jane grabbed a bunch of grapes and went to her rooms followed by Bear. “Bear, help me with the tub bath, will you? “”Already done sweetie …just like you like it…do you want a massage before you bathe?” “Hmmm that would be very nice, do I have time?” “Sure, honey cake, you know there is plenty of time, I’ve got the tub of bubbles set on the perfect temperature so the tub will hold while we get you rubbed down…I brought that new scented lotion your Mom made for you…you know it quiets your thinking.”
Rubbing Jane’s little body was something that Bear never quite got used to…the scars were long and ropey and Jane had stubbornly insisted that the surface of her skin not be genetically altered, it was too much trouble to spend the time going through alteration just for vanities sake. Her scars were a badge of honor, a sign that she had survived… she would never let anyone forget that she was the winner and her scars were her testament for everyone to see…she conformed to no one…she was special…she was Jane Doe, survivor, genius, physicist, mathematical visionary and she had decided that human vanity had no place in her world.
Bear rubbed her tiny body with scented lotion extracted from a rare Amazonian plant that gave off waves of relaxation pheromones. Janey sighed under Bears gentle, nimble fingers relaxing and experiencing the odd state of thinking of nothing…mmmm! Just as Jane started to drift off,
Bear gave her a gentle smack on her bottom and said,” Tub time for you little girl…lets wash that hair and get you all gorgeous.”” OK whatever,” murmured as she slipped into the massive bubbly tub …”oooh I love bubbles, don’t you Bear?” “Sure sweetie …let me wash your hair and your head, dunk under and come up wet…just like a little mermaid, honey cakes.”
While being wrapped and swaddled up in the hotels’ thick, white, cotton Egyptian robe Jane allowed Bear to dry her hair and massage scented cream into the side of her heavily scared head where she was missing an ear. The damage done to her when she was a child was beyond anything that a kind soul like Bear could ever get over… Bear never said anything about the scars and Jane never talked about her past. As far as she was concerned her body was just a necessity for carrying her brain around. Additionally because her senses were in tack she could enjoy eating, smelling, talking, seeing, kissing and touching Gene. Of course, this was all she really needed to use her body for and yes, walking was important, kept you independent of needing mouth breathers around so in fact her body was just a work horse.
Jane had little patience for stupid, unevolved people. She called them, mouth breathers…they sucked up much needed oxygen and gave off way to much CO2 and there were just way too many of them populating the earth. Thankfully Peony was solving the CO2 problem with her breakthroughs in plant genetics…mostly through the use of GMOs that Peony had patents for. These Genetically Modified Organisms were plants and algal colonies that off gassed O2 at an incredible rate while digesting CO2 as food.
The latest innovation was a new living algal fabric that could be constructed to replace most surfaces and textiles while continuing to live, digest CO2, synthesis light as well as give off O2. This living fabric shimmered like the feathers of a hummingbird, was as soft as feather light silk and would last as long as there was CO2, some ambient light and a touch of humidity. Since it breathed and took in moisture it was soothing to wear and self-repairing.
Tonight Peony’s dress and her own dress were constructed of this new fabric and would be introduced to the world press as well as advertised on the Giant Videon Screens set up all over the world. The Videon Screens would broadcast everything that happened tonight!
Max had already set up factories with fabrication and design centers ready to roll out this amazing new product platform. Soon these fabrications would replace antique textiles and plastics. Max had set up the financial entities to buy up cotton, silk, sheep and linen farms as well as petro based synthetic fabric factories at slashed valuation with the intention of planting the newest protein bearing food farms and fabric algal farms. All of these breakthroughs would eventually balance the atmospheres CO2 and O2 supply.
Although already massively wealthy, they would become the richest family on the planet while giving the earth’s population a balanced atmosphere. However the beautiful and environmentally friendly fabrics and all of its new technological applications were a small blip of information compared to the main event’s really big top secret announcement.
Stepping back, Bear looked at the transformation of tiny, scarred Janey into a bejeweled princess. The little tiny wonder was beautiful to behold. The custom made headdress covering
her scars and missing ear was crusted with perfectly carved cabochon rubies. Her huge doe brown eyes were enhanced by the surrounding flash and sparkle of the red jewels.
Scintillating, wheat colored algal fabric had been made into a body suit that covered her scarred legs, torso and arms. The final touch was a ruby-red algal overskirt that wrapped around her waist. It was a study in light and iridescence. She was transformed into a fairy princess.
Gene came into the sitting room that they shared and dropped to one knee saying softly,” my little princess, you look amazing, a gift for you to wear tonight my love.” He opened a large box that Bear had placed within his reach in his changing room. Inside the box on a velvet bed were 2 wrist cuffs encrusted with huge rubies and a ring with the largest pear shaped diamond that he had been able to find on the planet, it was so large that the ring that held it had been constructed to span 3 fingers.
Jane kissed her husband and knew that he wanted her to love these gifts, yet these things meant little to her. However the love that they represented was everything to her, once she had been the discarded child, the freak, but now she had her place with this man and their shared family. Everything was wonderful and tonight, the long anticipated night, Gene was going to change the world.
The comm buzzed again!
At this rate Max was going to allow a communication implant to be put into his head, the comm never stopped ringing! However the downside to an implant was that he would never be able to get away from all of these damn people calling.
Damn, he looked forward to the end of this evening knowing full well that by this time tomorrow he would wish that this day had never ended…the shit was going to hit the fan tonight and even with his crack team of planners and futurists he had no idea of the real outcome of Gene’s announcements.
Everything had been planned and organized in secret. All the world press knew was that all time slots on all media bandwidths had been purchased by a series of shell companies. So tonight something was going to be on every vid set and communicator in the world synchronized to be delivered at the same time during every New Year’s celebration on the planet.
All media time had been purchased insuring no leaks in any time zones…this kind of protection existed in off track betting…press executives knew the tremendous amount of cash that had been spent for this kind of global blackout. Giant Videon Screens had been set up in every large metropolitan area. The cost was staggering.
Years before, Max had told his people to buy as many media companies as possible so in fact the Volt family would reap the benefits of their own cash expenditures once the secrets were out.
The hotel was packed, invitations had been sent to the most influential scientists and government leaders in the world. Some had declined which was regrettable and would be too
bad for them. Max knew that the news or web would constantly carry their preplanned streaming infomercials so whether you came to the white tie event or not you were going to hear all about this big announcement.
This event was going to be one for the history books. Their event tonight was going to be the place to be, so anyone who did not show up was going to feel like a fool once the world changing news was released.
Limousines disgorged the mighty, the wealthy and the brilliant, all had received the invitations with first class transportation, classy accommodations plus an honorarium that even the richest person on the list could not fail to appreciate…this was going to be the party of the century at the biggest party in the EU, Hogmanay was always a night to remember in Edinburgh.
The glittering crowds were cleared through heavy security and then being led into the Grand Ballroom. The blazing candle light, the banks of rare flowers were a marvel to see and smell. Fabulous and exotic food was displayed around giant ice sculptures while champagne bottles popped, serving the crowds as they gathered.
Most of the rich already knew each other and they clustered together catching up. There was a curtained area that was heavily guarded by private security as well as a huge video screen that was silently showing what guests thought must be scenes from the jungle...amazing pictures of flowers and strange fruits as well as ponds of strange, wildly, colored scum.
Everyone knew these images had something to do with the work of Dr. Peony Green and her husband, Dr. Max Volt…it had been years since they had vanished from the public eye…the news media had tried to figure out where they were but had only caught them at the Nobel Prize function where they were both honored years ago.
That was 25 years ago, seems they just dropped out after their son, cruelly known as the monkey boy, had been born. The boy named Gene had started school at the University where they taught, seems his genetic disorder was incurable and his attendance at the school for the hugely gifted had caused quite a stir.
People were curious and cruel, so the little guy had been called monkey boy because he was covered in fur. The press was relentless. Peony Green had tried to shelter him by home schooling him but he was more gifted than his parents had realized. So Max Volt had insisted that he go to the special university campus school for identified genius’s that had been set up in collaboration with the government. The University administrators had promised a safe environment but even brilliant children could not resist bullying little Gene…so everyday a special bus picked up little Gene and off to University he went, all alone.
The media had caught occasional shots of the ‘monkey boy’ as he grew up. In response to the media’s obsessive curiosity, the Volts had built a fortress of secrecy where they all lived together in seclusion.
Max Volt was the most publically visible. He continuously set up successful businesses based on the patents that he and his wife pumped out. They had amassed a great fortune…but Peony
never left the security of her home. She stopped teaching on campus and her post-doctoral associates came to her house where it was said that she had the best equipment available for her continued research.
Max made sure that she and her associates lacked for nothing. He had set up an encrypted cyber room for her so she and her team could communicate with any scientist that was of use to them in her endeavors. They worked in complete secrecy.
The crowd, milled pensively, in the luxurious ballroom waiting to hear what Max had to say…something was up and those who had accepted the invitation were very curious.
Champagne flowed, glasses clinked, the room darkened and the videos began an announcement that stated that all should be seated in the rows of stadium seats facing the curtained stage.
People milled around looking for the perfect place finding that all of the seats had an unobstructed view of the stage, video and the wall of glass which overlooked the Edinburgh harbor. As they were seated, servers brought trays of food and continued refreshing drinks.
A movie started on the giant video monitors, headsets were available at every seat where your language of choice translated the video dialogue. All was quiet as the video played out, the story of Gene Volt, the monkey boy’s journey played for all to see!
Graphic pictures of his disorder, nude photographs of his hairy body left nothing to be imagined, home movies of family retainers shaving his tiny body every day before he set off for school brought tears to many eyes. Private photos of Peony Green, the most celebrated plant geneticist, rocking her freakish baby to sleep were included for all to see and experience. There were even videos showing her breast feeding her only son while crooning little songs.
My god, the media in the ballroom would have given anything for the rights to this vid…what the hell was this all about?
The video was relentlessly personal. Eventually pictures of Jane Doe, the child who had been found in a burning building chained in a cage were displayed. A cop had risked his life to save her. The baby had been on fire and the media had gone wild over the tragedy, covering every aspect of the criminal trial of the inhumane animals who had caged her. They had left her to burn with many other children who had not survived.
The little girl had disappeared into the foster system after the trial of the century. Human trafficking rings had been busted worldwide based on the files retrieved from a lap top that had been left behind in the inferno.
According to the vid this kid, Jane Doe, had become a part of the Volt family…she was apparently going to the genius school with the ‘monkey boy’.
Her little body was a ruin of scar tissue. One of her ears was gone and burned away. Her bald portion of her scalp had been burned and healed into ropes of thick reddish flesh. Her legs and arms were a sea of grafted tissue and she was freakishly small.
It was mesmerizing to watch her on the video, sitting on a booster chair next to Peony in the lab doing mathematical equations in her head while showing impatience with Peony’s Doctoral associates…it was obvious that this child…once considered burned refuse by the world had a mind that was without peer. She showed no emotions except when she was pictured with the family that she visited and stayed with as an honored guest. There were pictures of these children as they aged and grew. Jane always seemed small and distant in the family movies and Gene grew into a regular sized human monkey man…suddenly, the screen went black as the room was pitched into darkness.
Spotlights hit the stage where a beautiful young man stood with Max Volt… a bejeweled, tiny, fairy sized young lady sat in an elevated chair with Peony Green standing by her side. Max Volt introduced his son known as the ‘monkey boy’ to the crowd.
The crowd began to murmur when the vid, started up again explaining the genetic evolution of the new Gene” Pico” Volt …
Gene had broken the code of genetic modification as well as discovering the genetic answer to what was close to the essence of immortality or an extended life span!
He had transformed himself and he was beautiful to behold, the ‘monkey boy’ was gone.
The crowd sat stunned and silent, the stadium seats began to televise a podcast on genetic re-engineering and a menu of available opportunities for modification of corrupted genes, no more sickness, no more ageing, no more disfigurement and the possibilities of prolonged life, almost eradicating death.
All were quiet as they tried to absorb what they had just heard and seen! Gene ” Pico” Volt stood in front of them under a shaft of light that pinpointed his amazing physical beauty. He was a modern day Adonis.
He was smiling in triumph.
The inky stillness of the harbor was ruptured by resonating explosions of fire and light. The fireworks had been planned by the Volt Public Relations team. The streaming sky shells were making day out of the Scottish night.
Suddenly, all around Max, in the fabulously appointed ballroom, people milled and jostled trying to press close to his son, his son, the miracle, his son, the miracle worker.
Max was a quiet man. At least that was what he had become. The weight of his concerns, deeply personal concerns that had been so heavy that there had been no words to express the feelings of loss, tragedy and hopelessness, had enveloped the everyday life of his world. These
tragic feelings had left him no choice but to be a quiet man and so, he had become a very quiet man.
Today, as he watched the sky erupt with the staged celebration he felt the thick shell of his silence, the cone of his self- imposed solitude slough off, slipping away with each brilliant reverberation of the fantastic fireworks display.
He sipped the 50 year old scotch that his dear old Dad had set aside as a cask at the Balvenie distillery to mark the future day of his grandsons’ birth. That had been 50 years ago. The excitement swirled around Max while he watched the crowds’ reaction and savored the flavor of his rare single malt.
The crowd rumbled and sighed like a great beast yet he still felt alone, happily alone watching the sky celebrate his only sons’ great achievement. Max sipped the whiskey enjoying his sons’ triumph.
On this New Year’s Day night in the year of 2015, he drank to his fathers’ foresight, enjoying the new moment, enjoying the first carefree moment since that mournful day when Gene “Pico” Volt, his long awaited child, had been born.
|
